Camping to close at Masters Park on Stockton Lake

Day-use facilities like picnic tables will still be available to the public after the Kansas City District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers closes the park to camping starting March 1.(Photo: Wes Johnson/News-Leader)Buy Photo

In the face of projected budget reductions, the Kansas City District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is scheduled to close the camping area at Masters Park on Stockton Lake because the campground has been underutilized.

The Corps will implement this operational change to the park area on March 1, according to a press release. The change is intended to improve the efficiency of park operations while still providing quality recreational opportunities for the public.

Day-use facilities at Masters Park will remain open with no changes. That includes a four-lane boat ramp, swimming beach with picnic shelters and a fishing dock.

With more than 370 million visits annually across the nation, the U.S Army Corps of Engineers is the largest federal provider of outdoor recreation. Changes in the federal budget and increased demand for recreation resources have compelled the Corps to transform and reposition their recreation programs.

The Corps’ Recreation Strategic Plan provides guidance to ensure they continue to provide safe, quality outdoor recreation even with current and future budget realities. The National Recreation Adjustment Plan is the first step in evaluating recreation areas. The Kansas City District now has six areas — including Masters Park — that have been ranked as poor performing parks among others on a national list.

Brian Wright, natural resource manager at Stockton Lake, said pedestrian gates will be put up at the three-loop Masters Park campground area, but visitors can still hike or ride bikes on the land. Horseback riding will not be allowed, and cars will not have access. Picnic tables at campsites will come out, he said, and portable toilets will be moved from the campground to areas of Stockton Lake that get higher use.

Although a few people have called with objections to the plan, most people understand that budget reductions require an operational change.

“The efficiency is not there,” Wright said of Masters Park. “It is getting used some but not to the level that we would like to see it used. With these operational changes, we can direct our funding, our monies, in other areas that are getting higher use.”

No additional operational changes are planned for other Corps managed campgrounds on Stockton Lake. Visitors who normally camp at Masters Park are encouraged to visit Crabtree Cove, Orleans Trail or Cedar Ridge campgrounds which are nearby.

Discussions are underway about potential future uses for the Masters Park land, Wright said, which could include hunting or private leasing.

“A lot of the marinas have a campground and they leave that area from the Corps,” Wright explained. “We would entertain any ideas or interest.”

More information

Questions regarding this park operational change should be directed to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Stockton Lake, 417-276-3113.